It's 2020 already and I realise I haven't posted here for ages. I blame Twitter. And the number of reviews I'm writing now (thanks Guardian!)...

But 2019 was certainly a great year for books - or rather, for other people's books, as the amount of reviewing I'm doing has rather delayed my own book on detectives, which I am still writing, thanks to the patience of my editor...

Anyway, just in case you missed any of my reviews, here are some of the best ones from 2019:

Today, for the first time in history more than half the population of the planet live in cities. Two hundred years ago, just three per cent were city dwellers, but by 2050, 75 per cent will be urbanites. City is the ultimate guidebook for our urban age, taking the reader on a journey through the past, present and future of the world's cities. Illustrated throughout and with essays on everything from Ellis Island and Eco-cities, to Street Food and Tahrir Square, this is a fascinating celebration of our greatest creation – the city. More